Nebraska senators urge EPA to back biofuels industry

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers are pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to continue its support for renewable fuels when drafting rules that could limit amounts of ethanol blended with gasoline for fuel.

Forty-two of Nebraska’s 49 senators signed a letter sent to EPA administrator Gina McCarthy on Thursday, urging her to consider the impact of modifying the market for the ethanol industry that contributes $5 billion annually to the state’s economy.

Congress created a Renewable Fuel Standard in 2005, to grow ethanol and biodiesel markets in the U.S. The policy requires specific volumes of renewable fuel to be blended into gasoline. The EPA is expected to release oil industry draft rules for 2016 on June 1.

Supporters worry that oil companies are lobbying to decrease the amounts of ethanol required in fuel.